Genesis 18:19

18:19 I have chosen him 1  so that he may command his children and his household after him to keep 2  the way of the Lord by doing 3  what is right and just. Then the Lord will give 4  to Abraham what he promised 5  him.”

1 tn Heb “For I have known him.” The verb יָדַע (yada’) here means “to recognize and treat in a special manner, to choose” (see Amos 3:2). It indicates that Abraham stood in a special covenantal relationship with the Lord.

2 tn Heb “and they will keep.” The perfect verbal form with vav consecutive carries on the subjective nuance of the preceding imperfect verbal form (translated “so that he may command”).

3 tn The infinitive construct here indicates manner, explaining how Abraham’s children and his household will keep the way of the Lord.

4 tn Heb “bring on.” The infinitive after לְמַעַן (lÿma’an) indicates result here.

5 tn Heb “spoke to.”